Method of forming packing



Nov. 15, 1932. F. H. FIELD METHOD OF FORMING PACK ING Filed Nov 5. 1950 i'PeZZ/er ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT-IOFFICIE FLETCHER II. FIELD, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO RHODES METALLIC PACK;

ING COMPANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or IvIIcIIIGAN METHOD OF FORMING PACKING Application filed November 3, 1930. SerialNo. 493,203.

This invention relates to a method of forming metallic packing such as is used in packing stufling boXes about work ng shafts, rods and the like.

My invention constitutes an lmproved modification of the process described 1n United States Letters Patent No. 1,629,051 dated May 17, 1927. c

My invention has as its primary ob ect to provide a commercially practical method of producing metallic packing formed of a plurality of sections or segments. 7

My invention contemplates a method or process resembling that described in the aforementioned Letters Patent wherein a plurality of flexible strips are led through forming means whereby the strlps are 1111161:- folded and compacted and finally compressed in interlocked position, but modified to the extentthat during the interfolding and compacting operation the strips are separated -or divided into sections which when the packing is finally completed form a plurality of interfitti'ng or interengaging segments orsections.

()ne form of mechanism by means of which -my improved method may be carried out or executed, is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus employed in carrying out my invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly 1n vertlc'al section and partly in elevation of the structure Illustrated inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the finished packing;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line H in Figure 2, and

vFigure 5 is a view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 5J5 in Figure 2.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated in crosssection one form of packing which may be produced in accordance with this inventlon and from an examination of this figure it will be apparent that the packing comprises a substantially square cross-section formed of a plurality of substantially triangular segments which interfit to produce'a packing substantially square in cross-section. I

Each of the segmental or triangular sections 10 is'formedof a plurality of flexible strips ofmetal such as lead,babbitt, or any other preferred or desired material, these strips being interfolded and constricted and compacted and finally compressed. The flexible strips may be coated with graphite or 'oilor both and the packing may be provided with a covering 11 of fabric or any other preferred or desired material. v

In the form of packing illustrated in Figure 3, I have shown each section or segment 10 as being provided with asubstantially centrally arranged core 12 which may be of any desired material but preferably a material .gvlhicjh is at least partly resilient or compressie.- 1 f By providingapacking composed of substantially triangular, sections or segments, either pair of opposed sections may be forced outwardly in opposite directions when the other pair of opposed sections are compressed. This Increases the rangeof expansibility of the packing and thus increases its efficiency. A

In Figure 2 there is illustrated one formof apparatus'by means of which my improved method may be practiced. As will be'noted I provide aplurality of reels or spools 13, each containing'a strip of metallic ribbon 14. These spools or reels are mountedupon a platform or base '15. These metallic ribbons are ledup through forming means consisting of an 7 outer former 16 and an inner former 17 these formers cooperating to produce an annular space which progressively decreases in size from the bottom to the top thereof, the upper-adj acent edges of the outer and inner formers together forming a throat 18.

The space between the former 16 and former 17 is separated or'divided into a plurality of sections, herein shown as four, by radially arranged division plates 19. This produces four separate forming spaces as will be apparent. Thus the metallic strips erating pairs of rolls which draw the metal strips upwardly, these rolls acting also to compact the inter-folded strips andto'finally shape the assembled sections into the desired exterior cross-section. If a packing ofsubstantially square cross-section is to be pro-' 'duced, the profile of the rolls 21 will be substantially right-angular or V-shaped.

The metallic strips as they are drawn upwardly through the forming means are gradually drawn together or constricted andalso longitudinally distorted and folded due'to the progressively decreasing space between the formers 16 and 17 which act to exert a progressively increasing pressure upon opposed sides of the strips. This interfolding or constricting of the strips is practically completed as the strips emerge from the throat 18 of the forming means and the rolls 21 then compact and finally shape the packing. The manner in which the strips are interfolded and compacted together is semidiagrammatically illustrated and may be seen by comparison of Figures 4 and 5.

Obviously, it may be and often times is de sirable to associate acore or the like with the packing or with the sections thereof and in the drawing Ihave illustrated the core'members 12 as being lead upwardly with the metallic strips l i so as these strips are interfolded and compressed they will be interfolded and ,compresed around the cores. Thus the structure as illustrated in Figure 3 can be produced. If desired, but a single core member may be employed and this may be lead upwardly centrally'oraxially of the forming means and in the completed packing would be arranged at the juncture of the apices of the triangular sections.

While the rolls 21 serve to finally compress the strips of metallic ribbon into compact relation and to thoroughly interlock each strip with the adjacent strips so that they 'will not be readily torn apart, nevertheless by reason of'the initial separation of the strips into several sections the action of these rolls will not be such as to interlock the strips of adjacent sections.

In addition to the inherent resiliency of each of the packing sections a packing constructed of substantially triangular sections EZF. as herein described has the added advantage,

as mentioned hereinbefore, of the possibility of relative movement between the pairs of opposed packing sections.

Reservation is made to make such changes in any of the non-essential steps of the herein gular sections, those steps which consist in described method as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In the method of forming a flexible packing having a plurality of substantially trianto leading a plurality of flexible strips from spaced sources of supply through forming means arranged to separate said, strips into sections and to simultaneously apply. progressively increasing pressure upon opposed sides of the strips ofeach section to interfold and compact said strips with each other, and then pressing and shaping the sections so that together they assume the desired exterior configuration. i

2. The method of forming amulti-segment flexible packing which consists inleading a plurality of flexible strips from spaced sources of supply between formers arranged to apply progressively increasing pressure upon-opposed sides of said strips to interfold and compact said strips with each other, simultaneously dividing the strips into a plurality of groups whereby the strips of each group form a separate segment, and then pressing and shaping theas'sembled segments into the desired cross-sectional configuration.

Those steps in the methodof forming a sectional flexible packing which consist in simultaneously forming a plurality of'sections of the packing, each section comprising a plurality of flexiblestrips ofmaterial interlocked with each other, feeding said sections into juxtaposition with each other, and com- 1 0 pressing all of said sections to shape the assembled sections into the desired cross sectional configuration.

4. Those steps in the method of forming a multi-section flexible packing which consist 1 05 in'leading a plurality of flexible strips from spaced'sources of supplythrough passages of progressively decreasing diameter to apply a progressively increasing pressure uponopposed sides of said strips to interfold and "11C compact said strips with each other, leading the interfolded strips from said passages into juxtaposition to each other, and compressing the interfolded strips from all of thepassages to shape the same into a packing. strip having the desired cross sectional configuration.

5. Those steps in the method of forming a flexible packing having a plurality of sections movable relative to each other, which consist in dividing a plurality of flexible strips into groups, leading each group of strips through a passage of progressively. decreasing cross section to apply progressively increasing pressure upon opposed sides of the strips of each group to interfold and com pact the strips ofeach group with each other, discharging the strips from each passage into juxtapositionto the strips fromthe other passages, and simultaneously pressing and shaping the groups discharged from the sevv inner and outer surfaces of each envelope as it is being formed to interfold said strips with each other and thereby compact and constrict said envelopes about said cores, and finally compressing and shaping the several assemblages into a desired cross sectional shape.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FLETCHER H. FIELD. 

